Tamar Pair
T
amar Pair, MBA, MS, says no two days are the same in her role as business operations manager for the Clinical and Translational Research Informatics Center (CTRIC) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).
“Unexpected requests or changes can happen at any time,” said Pair, who has worked at UMSOM for 26 years. “I enjoy the challenge because it keeps me thinking creatively, solving problems, and helping our research teams stay on track.”
There were no questions to answer or obstacles to overcome the morning of July 20, however, when Pair’s workday took a surprising turn after she joined a videoconference packed with her co-workers in UMSOM’s Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH); members of her family; University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Staff Senate representatives; and UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS.
The surprise? Jarrell began the meeting by announcing that Pair had been named UMB’s Employee of the Month for July, adding that he appreciated her stellar efforts on behalf of the University and noting that the number of people who had gathered virtually to honor her was impressive.
“I’ve read glowing reports about what a great job you do in your position at the School of Medicine, so I’m here to thank you for that,” Jarrell said. “There are at least 20 people on his video call, and that’s really up there in terms of participants for these ceremonies. It shows that a lot of people think a lot about you.”
One of those admirers is Jessica Brown, PhD, associate professor, EPH, who is Pair’s supervisor and nominated her for Employee of the Month, saying that part of the nomination process involves describing how the nominee reflects each of UMB’s core values sets: Respect and Integrity, Well-Being and Sustainability, Equity and Justice, and Innovation and Discovery.
“I was very pleased to nominate Tamar for Employee of the Month,” Brown said. “The people who are nominated for the award are all truly exceptional individuals, so it’s impressive that she stood out among them. It was easy for me to comment on how Tamar epitomizes UMB’s core values. She is an invaluable member of our team, and I trust her implicitly with everything. She is a fantastic business manager. Honestly, I couldn’t run my team without her.”
CTRIC’s mission is to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries from basic science to clinical studies, bedside practice, and community intervention through use of information technology and informatics. The center’s team provides support to clinical and translational researchers at all stages of project development, using informatics tools and resources to provide a strong centralized body that supports studies of all sizes at UMB.
“Tamar’s talent in data management is instrumental in supporting multiple clinical research projects, which is inextricably linked to the UMB core values of Innovation and Discovery,” Brown said. “She regularly attends REDCapCon [an international conference designed for administrators, developers, and power users of Research Electronic Data Capture, aka REDCap] to keep her skills up to date and network with colleagues at other universities.
“To improve our project time tracking when manual tracking became cumbersome, Tamar delegated and supervised the selection of a time-tracking service to a team member,” Brown added. “We’ve had success with this platform for a year now, and this reflects her commitment to finding innovative solutions to improve our efficiency.”
Pair, whose first name is pronounced “Tay-mar,” said she enjoys helping researchers bring their projects to life.
“I manage the day-to-day business operations behind the scenes, including budgets, staffing, contracts, technology needs, timelines, and administrative processes,” she said. “I also work with researchers to understand what they need, connect them with the right resources, solve problems, and make sure projects stay organized and move forward successfully.
“I love interacting with participants, interacting with principal investigators, and learning about why so many different types of research are invaluable,” Pair added. “I believe in research, and I think we should keep up the good work at UMB.”
Pair said the best part of her job is getting the chance to solve problems and help colleagues succeed in their jobs and with their projects.
“Every day brings a new challenge, and I enjoy finding practical solutions that help our faculty, staff, and research teams move their projects forward,” she said. “It is especially rewarding to know that the work we do behind the scenes contributes to research that can improve lives and strengthen communities.”
Pair, who will receive a certificate and $250 in her next paycheck as rewards, said the Employee of the Month Award isn’t just an honor for her, but also a reflection of those who’ve supported and believed in her during her professional journey.
“It is truly an honor and very humbling to win Employee of the Month,” she said. “With nearly 8,000 employees at UMB, I never expected to be singled out in this way. I’m grateful to be recognized for doing work that I genuinely enjoy and for contributing to our research mission. This recognition reflects not only my efforts but also the support, collaboration, and encouragement of my colleagues, mentors, and leadership.
“I’ve proudly worked at UMB for nearly 26 years,” Pair added. “During that time, I’ve had the opportunity to grow professionally, build meaningful relationships, and contribute to the University’s mission in a variety of roles. UMB has truly been a place where I’ve been able to learn, lead, and make a difference.”
— Lou Cortina